James Wade won the UK Open with an impressive 11-7 victory over Gary Mawson on Sunday evening in Bolton.

The Aldershot left-hander produced a polished display to see off a brave challenge from Mawson and claim his third major title in the last 12 months.   He did not have it all his own way but stepped up when it mattered, reeling off six of the last seven legs after the contest had been locked at 6-6.

Wade lost three of the first four legs before roaring back to lead 5-3, a run that included getting seven darts into a potential nine darter before the penultimate arrow went astray in the eighth leg.  

Mawson, a 45-year-old Canadian-born American appearing in his first major final, responded to take the next three, including a 150 checkout in the 10th, to edge back in front at 6-5.

From that point it was one way traffic for the man nicknamed 'The Machine', who appeared to flick a switch in his brain that prompted a relentless display of heavy scoring and accurate finishing.    A run of five consecutive legs took him to the brink at 10-6, Mawson delayed the inevitable by winning the 17th, but it was all over in the next as Wade finished in style with an 85 checkout.

"It's the third time now and I'm still lost for words," after being presented with the trophy by Lancashire and England cricketer Andrew Flintoff.

"It's more money in the bank, that's what players like me strive for - the money - and the privilege of playing against players like Gary.

"I'm over the moon, absolutely over the moon."